Hi all, a new week has once again begun.

I really seem to have lost all motivation, I don't know why because I had started to lose the weight! I guess it's down to feeling a bit stressed about a few different things and with Christmas coming up I have so much to sort out with getting back to the UK and arranging to see friends and family - not wanting to upset whoever I don't end up spending Christmas with etc!
Things are a bit touch and go here in Spain for myself and my partner, we don't know yet whether we can stay out here, the next couple of months will be the test to see if the business is worthwhile. Guess I'm just a bit stressed with everything up in the air!

Was meant to do a fast today but I caved at about 3pm and had a sandwich. I will try to summon the energy to make myself fast tomorrow - any kind words of encouragement or experiences of how you have dealt with the lows in your life would be very much appreciated!

Jo x

snaps27 wrote: »

Hey Jo...I think we are all facing the holiday stress. Had my practice exam today...it went ok except now they want me to write a whole new chapter

I'm never going to finish

Anyway the way to cope through the stress...have a good listen to "it's all about the bass, no treble...every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top!" And just never give up, even when we stumble.

Thanks Snaps, yeah I guess it can be a stressful time of year - I do love Christmas though! It's just a mixture of a few things that can become too much!

What is your PhD in? I used to work with PhD students in the UK at Leeds University. I know how stressful it can be but keep that end goal in sight and you'll get there. My friend had his Viva yesterday and I've had a few go through them in the past couple of years. I turned down a PhD as I couldn't imagine going through all of that ha! I think the thing you have to keep in mind is: It's your work, no one knows your work better than you so you can do it!
I know there are specialists involving in the questioning of your work but they want you to pass and although the subject you're doing maybe their speciality, it is now yours too. All the best with it

snaps27 wrote: »

Hey thanks! My PhD is on ethics of digital manipulation in newspapers from the view of the photojournalists themselves. I've studied photography all through university (art, design and visual communication) but now I'm in applied social science because I discussing ethics. Sorry probably more than you wanted to know. I have been at this PhD since 2009 (5 years...oh so long). I enjoy the topic but I just get tired sometimes. But just like 5:2 I will keep chugging along!

Wow, very impressive! And I bet interesting (if you didn't have to think about it everyday for 5 years ). Thanks to Photoshop it is hard to know what is real in a picture and what is not. I think it would be quite interesting to look at the ethics of that. Is it ok to remove a blemish? Is it ok to remove incriminating or embarrassing images from a photo? Is it ok to add things to a photo? I imagine the ethics for photojournalism is a deep topic to draw from.

Awesome corner flumi!

Yes, we do all have down days don't we - I love this group, so great to have the support.

Snaps - that does sound like an interesting topic, and very different from the pig/chicken nutrition work I was seeing every day! 5 years is a looooong time but it will all be over soon and worth the hard work! A friend of mine did it part time over 7 years - I don't know how you guys do it!!!

Maphammonds - thanks, I will use those words to recite to myself! Only 5lbs before new undercrackers? Brill! That can be a new year present to yourself, a new year, a new you and all that!

Well, I'm doing a fast today and I'm going to make myself bloody well do it! It's 12:20pm here and I will carry on through until around 6 or 7pm... maybe even 8ish so I can eat with my lovely man when he gets back from work.
You know people say you should do one thing every day that scares you? Well I decided to get on the weigh scales this morning, just so I knew how bad the damage was from not doing any fasts last week. I couldn't believe it - I weighed the same as on the 5/12/14 - 164.2lbs! This was the best news I could have got as it has given me that push to get back on the 5:2 and get serious. I thought I would have been around 168lbs.... lets hope my scales aren't wrong - but even if they are, my brain has been tricked ha!

I fly back next Sunday to England and my aim is to shed a little bit more this week just so that I can enjoy Christmas without feeling too guilty. I have decided thought that I won't be going too crazy with food and booze over the festive couple of weeks but I'll allow myself treats. I do tend to be a bit boozy with family over Christmas so that will be my downfall!

How is everyone getting on this week? Any other Tuesday fasters?